Spectator Ions

• Spectator ions


  Present in a reaction mixture but don't take part
• Spectator ions appear on both sides of a chemical equation unchanged
• Spectator ions are sometimes left out (omitted) in the chemical equation
• To identify the spectator ions

  Put the charges on all ionic compounds in the equation
• Worked Example


  • HCI (aq) + NaOH (aq) NaCl (aq) + H2O (l)